I hate politics. I don't mean this in a this-election-cycle-sucks kind of way. For me, politics are probably the least interesting thing I can think of right next to Calculus and Football. There is not a single part of me that enjoys learning about it. I have never watched a single debate because frankly, how well two people argue with each other will not sway my vote in the slightest. Also, I own about 800 movies and the worst one in the bunch is better than watching two old people talk over each other.

I do vote. I vote in almost all elections, including local and primaries. The only reason I vote is because I know how hard women fought to vote and I feel like I owe it to them to make an educated vote. As a cynic, I don't actually believe my vote matters in the slightest. At all. I don't think it matters who I vote for as president. It matters a bit more on the local level, but even then, I usually don't see it mattering that much, especially when you are a liberal minded person living in the Bible Belt. I mean, I'm not part of the electoral college system and with millions of people in the US, one vote doesn't mean diddly.

One thing that I do find fascinating about this particular election cycle though is the mental gymnastics people are doing in order to favor one candidate over the other. If this was just about policies regarding abortion, guns, gay marriage, and illegal immigration, I would understand. I get it. You think abortion is wrong and you want a candidate who, if they aren't going to outlaw it, will at least legislate it to death. One issue voters annoy the shit out of me, but at least they are consistent. But the problem for many of my conservative Christian friends seems to lie with the fact that they have to choose between two liars. So then they have to start playing a game of "Who is the Worst Sinner?". A pastor of a friend wrote recently that he was going to vote for Trump because "Hillary is a liar" and "at least Trump is open about his sin." This is a fascinating justification to me. So, lying is now a worse sin than prejudice, adultery, divorce, tax evasion, and treating immigrants badly? All of those things are expressly mentioned in the Bible btw. But it's okay because at least he is open about it? And never mind that Trump has done his fair share of lying and stretching the truth. Let's also address the fact that every single human being on this planet has lied. Some do it more than others, but there is not a single person who hasn't done it. Not even this pastor. If he says he hasn't, then he is undoubtedly a liar. Lying, although certainly not a kind act towards our fellow man, is part of the human experience.

Did I miss something with this whole open sin thing though? I mean, I attended churches for almost three decades and those who were openly living in sin, often found themselves not welcome in the church anymore. If they weren't kicked out via some form of "church discipline", then they were pushed out by sharp judgment. Now, to be clear, I went to and grew up in extremely conservative Evangelical churches. Not these moderate churches that allow homosexuals and unmarried couples who live together. My pastor growing up wouldn't marry you if he found out you had already slept together or lived together. Same church denomination wouldn't allow our associate pastor to ever be a senior pastor because he had been divorced. But now we have these same pastors (and Christians) making allowances for Trump because they can't bring themselves to vote for someone that is okay with abortion? Which honestly, although I don't agree with it, I would at least understand if they just admitted that this is why they are voting. It does feel a bit like being in Bizzarro land.

If we are using the Biblical definition of sin to measure political candidates and their eligibility for presidency, then I think Clinton actually wins hands down. Sin is sin right? This is a common phrase from Christians to point out that all sin is equal in the eyes of God. If this is the case, if it is all equal, then the issue is really the amount of it and whether they are relishing in it (and possibly repentant), not the content of the sin. I hear a lot about Clinton lying about emails and my mother mentions Benghazi occasionally, although the second I haven't heard in quite a while. But Trump has a list of sins and lies that go on and on. When called out on them, he doubles down and speaks even more lies and slander. Things that the Bible expressly forbids. Trump basically does everything listed in Proverbs 6:16-19. The Jesus of Matthew 25 wouldn't be too happy either. The Bible is also extremely clear on rich people and their boasting.

I think most Christians know Trump is not a Christian, no matter what they say, but if you are one and insist that you are voting your conscience based on the Bible....and still want to vote Trump...then you are a hypocrite. This post isn't about being for or against anyone, only pointing out the hypocrisy of using the Bible as your system of belief and then ignoring it completely when the candidate in your party doesn't line up with it. And yes, I do think a lot of this boils down to prejudice and Christians having a false martyr complex. And when push comes to shove, I think many of these conservative Evangelicals just can't bring themselves to vote pro-choice even if it means voting for a person who goes against all of their other values and beliefs.